The main objective of the one-day workshop was to open a discussion on harnessing the potential of DEEP TECH and digital solutions to transform EU industrial ecosystems. Different perspectives on the use of DEEP TECH and open innovation appeared in all presenters’ contributions. The outcomes of the follow-up panel discussion can serve as a basis for further discussions in professional and political circles.
The new European Innovation Agenda seeks to increase the global competitiveness and resilience of companies and facilitate growth in emerging sectors, especially those enabling the development and use of DEEP TECH. European innovation ecosystems should serve to support industrial transformation based on the objectives of the Green Deal policy. At the same time, the question of how to improve the transfer of basic, low TRL research results to industrial conditions remains unanswered.
The event offered an open and evidence-based dialogue between policy makers, managers, entrepreneurs, universities and technology transfer experts. The workshop was initiated by the European Commission in cooperation with DEEP Ecosystems 500 and hosted by the Technical University of Munich.
What is Deep Tech
… You can read about it on https://www.wolvessummit.com/. The term DEEP TECH refers to those startups whose business model is based on high-tech innovations in engineering or significant scientific advances.
Examples of deep technologies may include artificial intelligence applied to predict natural disasters or molecular imaging technologies that identify disease or predisposition to disease far earlier than any existing test could. During the workshop, however, a discussion was opened as to whether complex technologies that combine knowledge from various disciplines and bring unique answers or solutions to serious societal problems also fall into the DEEP TECH category. The combination of high-tech, engineering, artificial intelligence may not be decisive for assessing whether or not a given technology fulfils the DEEP TECH condition. And all this also taking into account the breadth and interdependence of modern research and development.
“I first encountered the DEEP TECH issue at this workshop,” says Martin Kubeš, a colleague from CeTTAV who attended the meeting. “The event broadened my horizons in the field of knowledge and technology transfer. I consider the discussion and exchange of experience between colleagues from Europe and the USA to be very valuable. The presentations and discussions on concrete examples of DEEP TECH in the field of renewable energy, energy and smart cities were also beneficial.”
CAS and DEEP TECH projects
CeTTAV or the CAS is currently dealing with several transfer projects that either have their potential very close to the definition of DEEP TECH or could successfully meet this definition in the near future. At this point, however, it is difficult to estimate how many projects will actually succeed. We can certainly remain cautiously optimistic, and believe that a revolutionary invention or technology will come out of our academia.
Back to Munich
Taking into account the view that the EU is lagging behind the USA and China in the area of technology and knowledge transfer, the workshop also discussed how to use this new initiative to kick-start and improve monitored parameters such as annual patent production, licensing agreements concluded, start-up companies founded, and the volume of investments attracted. Participants also pointed to the fact that the structure and distribution of research, development and technology transfer centres in the EU is relatively uneven.
„I believe that a good basis for further communication on a professional and political level has been laid here and that the options discussed in Brussels so far on how to ideally support the development of DEEP TECH will also manifest themselves in practice,” says Martin Kubeš from CeTTAV.
